Hi Blanca, I very much agree with most of what you say about restaurants in my home town of Cali and with your selection of recommended spots. I am a big fan of Go Go Ramen, El Falso Olivo and La Comitiva. Here are a few more you should visit on a future trip: 1. Trattoria Italia in San Antonio (try the Tagliatella Cacio e Pepe con Toco Norcino) 2. Carpaneto pizzeria in Granada (these two are owned and operated by Italians). 3. El Escudo del Quijote in El Peñón 4. Guacharaca Café in downtown Cali. From the same owners of Go Go Ramen (try the Cochinillo). 5. Gastroteca in Normandía on the river. Great Argentine cuts like Entraña, Asado de Tira and Matambre and the best wine list in the city (adjoined to Vinos Del Río store)

I must say the gastronomic scene has improved significantly since I arrived back 5 years ago after a couple of decades abroad.

Esteban, Gracias por el comment (hope you don’t mind Spanglish). Thanks so much for the recommendations. I’ll be back early next year (I think) so I am excited to check out your recommendations. I’m very hopeful that Cali has a growth spurt like Medellin & Bogota did. Caleños are lovely people and I think the city could benefit from some Salsa loving tourism. 😀

Hi Blanca, My wife and I are moving to Cali. She grew up there but in the US for last 20 years. Have a condo is Cuidad Jardin area. Tried Monchis in Cuidad Jardin – excellent ribs and decent wine. Bit pricey – $80 for a lite dinner for 3 with a bottle of wine and deserts.

When is the move planned for? This should be exciting. My mom moved back after 20+ years in the states and every time I talk to her she tells me how she does not miss US weather. Ciudad Jardin (IMHO) is the way to go. It’s safe, clean and the buildings there will have electricity when the rest of the city does not. $80 for dinner is very pricey for Cali, but I’m a big believer that value is not a price tag thing, more a quality thing, so if it was delish, then it was probably worth it. Will check it out when I head there later this year. Any other places I should check? Did you get to go to La Hacienda del Bosque? That was definitely one of my faves 😀